Pneumatic sheet feeder for printing presses



April 7, 1953 R. T. LARSON PNEUMATIC SHEET FEEDER FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed March 19, 1948 -3 Sheets-Sheet 1 kv MWw M/ INVENTOR. RA! PH 7. .4 A Rso/v,

BY M'v A TTORA/EYS April 7, 1953 R. T. LARSON PNEUMATIC SHEET FEEDER FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed March 19, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

R/MPH Z L ARSO/V,

ATTORNEYS April 7, 1953 R. T. LARSON 2,633,797

PNEUMATIC SHEET FEEDER FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed March 19, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

RAZP/v 7: LA RSO/V, BY

ArroR/v'xa Patented Apr. 7, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PNEUMATIC SHEET FEEDEILFOR enm'rmc I :PRESSES Ralph;T.';I2arson, Washington,.D. 0.

Application March'19, 19.48, SerialNo. 15,795

4:;Claims. 21

.:.My invention'relates'to improvementsinprintving zpresses.

The invention is more particularly directed .to improvements in printing presses vwith ;respect .to offset control, viz the dryingrofthe inkon the .paper while the'sheet is being drawn over flame jets of a gas burner or thelike, theelim- .ination of static electricity from the papersheets whichfis accomplished by means of .heat from the saidburner jets, and more particularlyand .iniassociation with .the foregoinganovel form :of dual-control of the suction for .feedingand delivering the sheets of paper to and froma printing position in the printing machine and which dual control is operable from either side of the printing machine, depending where the operator of the machine isstanding or positioned at the time that regulation or control of the suctionis necessary.

My inventionalso.comprehends the combination of a dual control .for .thesuction producing means for the feeding and delivering of the. sheets of .paper in a printingpress with aregulatable :means for.supplyingthe-proper amountof gas -.to the burner which eliminates ofiset in: the print- .ing process and static electricity from the sheets that are handled in the printing machine.

In printing machines .now available on the ,market'ancl one typeof-which ishereinaftermore fuliy described, such machines are furnished to thetrade and include=a sing-le'control which is usually at the right vfront .side of the printing ,press, which control is forethe.suction'producing meansfor the feeding and delivering of the paper 'sheetsin the coursezof printing. Further, with available printing :machines .opprinting presses of the so-called-platen type, there is noprovision :made for the prevention of ofiset, noreis there iprov-ision made for theelimination "of static-elec- =tricity-that exists when sheets of paper to be .printed are stacked together anddelivered to-the .platen-for.printing and likewise when delivered from-the platen after printing has beenaccomplished. Thus, it is clear that-thenow available printing presses whilequite satisfactoryto ader.greedo actually possess some disadvantages in that (the operator must -be adjacent the :right .frontside of themachinein'orderto regulate or control the amount of suction that is supplied to the suction feeding and delivering'means for the paper sheets. .If it should :happen that the operator is on the left side of the machine at the time, and frequently 'he is, then he must walk around either .the'back 'of .the machine or the front-to .get to therightifrontside in order to regulate the .suction means.

.nowavailable, and lackingthe means forelimination of. static electricity from the sheets of paper and the prevention of iofiset, there quite frequently results smeared .printing and the continuous operation ofthe press'is not possible due to the sheets becoming adhered to one another as the result of the inherent static electricity and thus not properly fed to the vplaten and away from .the same.

In myimprovements for printing machines or printing presses, I definitely overcome the disadvantages of the printing presses and machines that are now available in that automatically during the course of printing the paper, the static electricity is eliminated and offset is prevented vand the operator may operate and control the suction means from either side of the printing press depending upon which is the most convenient .to .him as regardshis location and the duties. or observations of the machin'e'that' he may beperforming or overseeing at the time.

iWith the foregoing in mind, it is an object of .my invention to provide simple and inexpensivemeans for the elimination of static electricity in the course of printing paper'sheets 'or the likeand the prevention of offset and a dual control .for the suction means for the feeding and delivering of the paper sheets.

.Another .objectof my invention isto provide simple and inexpensive means'for the dual control of the suction for the feeding and delivering-of paper sheets in standard or conventional printing ,pressesan'd Without in any Way altering to any extent the printing machine or press asis furnished to the trade.

Another object of my invention is to provide inexpensive means -.for attachment to a standard or conventional printingpress whereby static electricity in the sheets of paper and offset is prevented.

'Another o'bject of my invention is to provide inexpensive'means forattachment to a standard orconventional printingpress whereby static electricity in the sheets-of paper -and oiTset is prevented and in combination with a dual control for regulating and controlling the suction means for feeding and delivering sheets of paper.

Another object of my invention is to provide in combination a simple and relatively inexpensive attachment for conventional printing machines or presses wherein two separate but connected controls for the suction means for feeding and. delivering the sheets of paper are provided, and whereby when either one of the controls for the suction means is operated, the amount of gas supplied to a burner for the prevention of offset and the elimination of static electricity is automatically and simultaneously accomplished.

Another object of my invention is to provide a control means for the suction feeding and delivering of the sheets of paper in a printing press that is attached to a similar control means supplied with said press and capable of being operated at a distance remote from the last mentioned control means.

Another object of my invention is to provide a very inexpensive attachment for conventional printing presses which will enable the operator of the press to control the feeding and delivering of th sheets of paper from either side or front of the press.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, like reference numerals denote the same parts in the several figures.

Fig. l is a perspective view showing the dual control arrangement for the suction for feeding and delivering the sheets of paper and the control of the gas for the burner for the prevention of offset of the printed sheets and elimination of static electricity in the handling of the sheets of paper, certain portions being shown in cross section;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale showing more in detail the control means for the supply of gas and the pilot gas burner and depicting a portion of the control means for the suction producing means for feeding and delivering the sheets of paper to and from the platen of the press.

Fig. 3 is a plan view with parts broken away in section, showing particularly the structural features embodied in the burner;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal sectional view with parts broken away in section, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view showing the mounting of one end of the burner proper and how it is bolted to the delivery track bracket end plate which is a conventional part of a printing press;

Figs. '7 and 8 are schematic views showing some of the essential parts of the printing press and more particularly as to how the sheets are fed from a stack to the platen and delivered from said platen after being printed.

The invention will be more readily understood by referring to the drawings in detail. The following is a description of the essential parts of a conventional printing press and actually forms no part of my invention except as hereinafter described in combination. The conventional printing press includes an upper left side frame It which is in the form of an angle iron. The delivery track bracket and plate of the printin press is denoted at l and is disposed at the right side of the machine. The conventional printing press is placed on the market and includes a suction feed cut-01f lever I2 which is slightly angularly disposed with respect to the perpendicular and. is mounted in spaced brackets 13 and I4 that are suitably attached to the machine frame. This cut-off lever at its upper end is in the form of a handle l5 and the lower end l6 thereof is connected with the stem of a rotary suction feed cut-01f valve I! and which valve is connected by means of the piping 18 with the vacuum or suction creating pump it and which pump has a connecting rod 25 connected with a crank 21 of the crank shaft 22, the ends of which shaft are suitably positioned in bearings in the opposite side frames of the printing press. The suction feed cut-off valve H is connected by piping 23 to an upstanding hollow feeder arm post 24 that is closed at its lower end 25 and has connected therewith at its upper end 25 a feeder arm post head 21. The feeder arm post 24 is connected by means of spaced brackets 28 and 29 to a suitable part of the frame of the printing press. A flexible suction pipe 39 is attached at one end to the feeder arm post head 21 and the other end thereof is connected with a rigid hollow pipe 3|, on the end of which is a flexible pick-up cup 32. It is understood that a plurality of the pick-up or suction cups 32 are provided for feeding paper sheets from the stack to the printing press platen as is later described herein more in detail. The suction feed cut-off valve is provided with a rotatable depending arm 33 which limits the amount of opening of that valve. The vacuum or suction pump is provided with a take-off in the form of a pipe and nipple 34 to which is indirectly attached a flexible suction hose 35. The free end of this hose, 36, has connected therewith a rigid arm 3! to which is attached a suction or sucking cup 38 which acts to deliver the printed sheets from the platen. The platen 39 serves to receive thereon sheets 48 that have been delivered from a stack of sheets 4| by means of the feeder arms and suction cups 3| and 32. After the sheets have been delivered to the platen and printing effected, they are delivered from the platen by means of the suction cups 38 on the ends of the rigid arms 31. A blower pipe hose is connected with rigid nipple 3 4 on the suction pump. The stack of sheets 4| are supported on their sides or ends in a suitable support 42 provided with a follower 43. This support acts as a stock or stack magazine for the unprinted sheets of paper.

The essential parts of the printing press that are described immediately above, for example are those parts of a printing press on the market known as the Kluge press and the sheet delivering feature of such press is shown in the Kluge et al. Patent No. 1,621,547, March 22, 1947. As already stated, the parts that are described above are conventional parts of a Kluge or other similar printing press or printing machine and are merely illustrated in order to associate therewith my invention which constitutes the dual flame, :hereinafter referred to.

control :-for the suctl'on producing :m'e.ans nor rt-he feeding and delivering :of the :sheets :of paper and/or in connection :and :combination a with the gas or other burner or heater for prevention gof o'ifset and elimination of static .electricity from the sheets of papers handled in the course (of printing.

In coming ato .my-invention, :I provide :21-11 elongated meta1lic 'or 'other rigid bracket 1:50 :that is attached by meansrof boltszor screws .5 l 1110 the 'fiange 'of the .:angle viron frame of the press. The 'forward end of ':the bracket :52 at its'lower portion .is provided with a suction steed -control or. cut-off lever guide .or support .153 which :has an opening 54 therein through which my suction feed cut-off or control lever 55 extends downwardly: and at substantially :theisame angle with respect to the perpendicular as the :first :men- .tioned '.Sll0ti01'1if6.d cut-cit sand control :lever 12. :Qne'endof any-lever is provided with ahan'dle 5,6 and adjacent the other.,end I51 thereof VI 1 provide an arm 58 ithat hasanxopening :58 .therein and=is fixedly secured :adjacentthe :end .5! by #means of a bolt orscrew- 60. This arm includes .anoutwardly extending portionefil provided with screw .68 to ,adjacent the lower'encl of thacon- .trol .lever 12. .My control and ,Clltn-Ofi .lever .55 .adjacent.its lowerendextends through an openinglifi in a bracket 10, .the latter. being; attached lbylmeans ,of -albolt 1| ,to,a part of the printin ,press 1.2. JIhus, it will be .seen that with .the T bracket 1.0 and the. support. orhguide 53, :thecontrol and .feed 'cut-.off.lever 5,5 mountedior .rotationor oscillation in the guide andthebracket and is prevented ,from being accidentally .idisplaced therefrom" in substantially the same manner that the control and cut-oif'lever .12 is mounted in the brackets I3 and 14 that areconventional parts offtheprinting press.

From thepforegoing, it will beseen that 'I; have provided an additional suction .feejd control ,or cut-off-lever 55*that in viewing the printing press in front elevation is atthe leftfront side .ofthe printing press, whereas "the suction .fee'd control andcut-off lever 12 that is supplied originally withthe press is at the right front side of the printing press. "Thus,-with"my control and cutoff lever connected by "the link 64 to the control *and cut-off lever 12, it will be clear that when either the lever 12 or 55-is operatedthat'inturn the suction :feed cut-"off valve 1-! is necessarily operated and can control either one of said; levers +2 or 55. With this arrangement the "operator can control the suction feed cut-off -valve I I from either side or frontpf t-heprinting-press.

:My "invention allows the press 'to continue in 'motion with' both the gas burner and-'the-suction -to -.the .feeder "arm of "the-press completely shut -.off with the exception of =a-smal1 guarded pilot Moreover, -my invention results in a every 'eflicient operation of lplaten presses which :require :greater "starting inertia due .to a heavy flywheel and it is not .-necessary to :stop the press "when the gas and the suction is turned ofif. zFurtherc-my invention zeliminates .:.any 1: damage zto :ru'bber :suction tips press. Then jtoo, fire hazardis eliminate'din-the quseof my inventiorrinsthatthe dual control of the and the gas :supply pipe for the .same.

:gasavalvenndifeederasuctlonzcuteoffwvalee:allows simultaneous lcuteoffrof both ".valves :iin the event "of armisguided sheet. .-.In :the luseof my'.inv.ention ;the rsuction valve .cuteoff is ;extended gi-rom the 1 right side .of the .press ;to the i left (the :operatingzside of the press) eandaallows-ztheoperator to "have better .esupervision of the printed sheets and'easieraccess to the .cuteoff :control lever to .the suction valve.

"IIIjSOmBI instances, it .is desirable that the operation of either-of thellevers l2 or 155, ,inxaddivtion to controlling :the suction, should automatically and simultaneously control the :gas supplied "to :agas burner which prevents :ofiset and eliminates :static electricity of .the sheets of paper being handled .in ,the printing press. To-.accomplishthis result-,1 fixedly attach-anomstandingrarm :73 ibyuneans or a belt or. screw Z'M to my isuction :feed control :and cute-off lever {5.5 immediately below: the abracketitt. I The .freeend of =1this arm -13 is provided i withran -.opening :15 through which projects the1down-turned end 1.6 :of ;a substantially U :shaped link 1 1 the other end eof :which .extends through an opening :18 .in the free endofran :adjacent arm 19, which arm fat its other end isattached to theshaft .ofsra regulatablegasxvalve 8| that :is'supplied :withgas Lthrougha pipe B2 from .a suitable source, not shown. There isamain cut-ofi gas valve Stand ain'thepipe line.8,2 .-a T;connection 8.4 is provided, one branch-of which, -85, .has connected there- :with a pilot tube- 86, the .free end of said tube, 287, terminating adjacent perforations :88 in :a hollow tubular burner 189, ;one end of which connected by means .of an e1b0w590-to apipevfil, the -:latter .rhavingassociated therewith :the usual ::and conventional connection and air mixer ;--92

that is connected directly with the connection rcontrolrandssupply valve 18 l The burner -89. has one end connected into the elbow '98 v and as'will :be :seen particularly in *Fig. -3 that end .of the Journey :89 passes through anopening -93 in the unattachedend of-the elongated bracketfimwhich 'bracket eacts asa; partition support for 'the burner The burrie-r-Bii-is elongated and asstated is provided with :a plurality :of spaced apertures =88 and the unconnected end thereof, r94, is plugged and 'closed "by means of Jan yexteriorly threaded .and iheaded-rbolt'zllfi which passes througlran upstanding vbracket 1:96, theilatter having one end B! at- Stache'd-"hy meanszof a bolt;-98 to the'end-oithe delivery "trackbracket andplate H. By means supported *at thezend :opposite from that ,end

zwhich iszsul portedbythemend of the elongated :bracket 50.

;It.- is to be understood that :this elongated tubular or fhOllOW burner 89 extends transversely across :the "printing machine slight- 'ly behind and abelowthe platen 39. The :end 8! of {iJhLBTIJllQt :tube 1'86 is disposed slightlybelow an opening 199 .in .531 pilot :fiame guard 100, which flame guard, or that portion thereof .that'is about :one end of the burner 89, is substantially U- 2 sarypar-ts and elements of aa'conventional printing press, and when considered along with :the

description of my invention, -:it .is believed clear that-itheoperation of the press including: my invention is -substantially as follows:

-We will ifirst assume that the operator iofithe 7. press merely wishes to have the dual control for the suction feed cut-off valve which controls the suction to the feeding arms and suction cups 32 for feeding the paper from the stack to the platen 39. With this in mind, the substantially u-shaped connecting link I! will be removed from the arm 13 and the arm 18 that is attached to the connection control valve. Thus, with the suction feed control and cut-01f lever l2 that is supplied with the printing press and having connected with it by means of the link 64 another suction feed control or cut-01f lever 55 which is in the opposite front side of the machine to that of the lever I2, the operator, depending upon where he happens to be positioned when the suction means needs regulation or control, can grasp the handles l5 or 56 resp ctively of the rods I2 and 55 and thus save himself that time and eiiort which would be necessary to walk around the press if only the lever 12 were applied to the press. In other words, with this arrangement, I provide a dual lever control system for the suction feed cut-off valve of the printing press, one of such controls being substantially at the right front side of the press and which control is conventional but having associated and connected therewith my control lever at the direct opposite front side of the printing press, thus eliminating lost motion and time on the part of the operator when merely one such control, for instance the control lever 12, is applied to the press.

In order to simultaneously control and regulate the amount of gas supplied to the burner 89 along with the control of the suction feed and cut-off valve [1, it will be understood that the substantially U-shaped link I! will have been connected with the arm 73 on the control lever 55 and the arm 19 on the control lever 18, th latter being attached to the valve that supplies gas to the gas and air mixer 92 and through the conduit or p p 9| to the burner proper 89. When this link 11 is connected as aforestated, the mere turning of either the lever ['2 or the lever 55 will result in turning the rotary valve 8] and consequently regulate the amount of gas supplied to the burner 89. It being assumed that the main gas valve 83 has been opened and that the pilot has been lighted, and with the turning of either of the levers l 2 or 55, the gas will be discharged outwardly through the orifices or the openings 88 in the elongated burner 89 which is disposed slightly rearwardly and below the platen 39, see Figs. '7 and 8, so that as the connection is regulated the gas supply is regulated and consequently the amount of flame from the series or plurality of orifices. The operation of the printing press is conventional insofar as the feeding of the paper to the platen is concerned and the delivery from said platen after the printing has been effected. However, it is at this point, namely, between the feeding and the final delivery, that the burner 89 has its effect in preventing or eliminating offset of the printing, due to the heat of the flame, when the already printed sheet S as in Fig. 8 is being delivered from the platen and quickly past the burner, the flame of which is denoted at F. This action in delivering the already printed sheet quickly over the flame F prevents the oifset and likewise due to the heat removes the Static electricity from the paper sheets. The feedin of the paper sheets from the stack, see Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, is as usual in that the plurality of suckers 32 re-ciprocates and pick one sheet at a time from the inclined stack 4| and deliver that sheet onto the face of the platen 39 after which and quickly,

of course, the sheet is printed and upon completion of printing the plurality of delivery suckers 38 engage the sheet and move it quickly past the fiame F of the burner 89 thus preventing the offset and removing the static electricity from the sheet.

In some instances it may be desirable to use only the burner arrangement for prevention of ofiset and elimination of static between the sheets of paper. This can be readily accomplished by simply removing the link 64 that connects the two levers l2 and i5. Thus the lever 55 would then only serve the purpose of operating the gas valve that controls the flow of gas to the burner 89.

I claim:

1. In a printing press including means for producing a suction having associated therewith suction means for handling paper in the course of printing and delivering of such paper, a pipe line connected with the suction producing means and the suction means for handling the paper, a valve in said pipe line, an elongated lever having a free end thereof in the form of a handle and with its other end secured to said valve for purposes of regulating or cutting off said valve for the control of the suction; an arm fixedly secured to the said lever and having an outwardly projecting portion with an opening therein, another lever similar to the first mentioned lever but in spaced relation thereto, an arm secured to the last mentioned lever and which arm has an opening therein, a link, each end of which is downturned and inserted into the openings of the arms on the said levers and serving as a connection between the two said levers, whereby when either one of the levers is operated the valve is regulated or controlled, which effects the suction or said valve may be readily cut ofi to prevent any suction whatsoever being applied to the means for handling the paper.

2. In a printing press including means for producing a suction having associated therewith suction means for handling paper in the course of printing and delivering of such paper, a valve control for the suction producing means, an elongated lever for regulating and controlling the said valve, the lever being positioned adjacent one front side of the press and having one of its ends directly connected to the valve with the other end free for operation of the valve, spaced brackets in which said lever is mounted for rotation; another lever substantially of the same size and height as the first mentioned lever and in spaced relation to the first mentioned lever positioned adjacent the other front side of the press, a bracket secured to the press frame adjacent the top thereof, a portion of said bracket serving as a guide or support for the second mentioned lever adjacent one end of the lever, and a bracket secured to the press adjacent the bottom thereof serving as a further support for the elongated second mentioned lever, and a removable link connection between the two said levers, which link connection extends transversely across the press adjacent the lower portion thereof, whereby when either one of the levers is operated the suction valve is either controlled or regulated or cut off. 3. A printing press as defined in and by claim 1, including burner means for prevention of offset and elimination of static electricity, the said burner being of an elongated type that extends transversely of the press adjacent and slightly below the platen and including a pipe system for the supply of gas to the burner, a valve for regulating and controlling the fuel in the piping system, and a connection between one of the levers and the said fuel valve, whereby when either lever is actuated the suction valve and the fuel valve are both simultaneously regulated and controlled.

4. In a printing press as defined in and by claim 2, including burner means for prevention of ofiset and elimination of static electricity, the said burner being of an elongated type that extends transversely of the press adjacent and slightly below the platen and including a pipe system for the supply of gas to the burner, a valve for regulating and controlling the fuel in the piping system and a connection between one of the levers and the said fuel valve, whereby when either lever is actuated the suction valve and the fuel valve are both simultaneously regulated and controlled.

RALPH T. LARSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

